Watch the emotional moment a bride and groom were blown away by an incredible surprise wedding haka
- Posted by
- Amy Swales
- Published
Brides, grooms, best men and bridesmaids cracking out a choreographed routine doesn't really have the impact it used to (though it's probably still preferable to shuffling round the dance floor clinging on to each other for grim death).
However a video of a surprise wedding dance in New Zealand has racked up an incredible 17 million views and counting, as family and friends of a just-married couple broke out into an emotional performance of the country's traditional haka.
The video, which you can watch in full below, was filmed at Aaliyah and Benjamin Armstrong's Auckland wedding reception.
The groom's relatives threw themselves into the Maori dance
Outside of New Zealand, many probably only know the lively stamping and shouting of the haka thanks to the national rugby union team, All Blacks, performing it before international matches.
While in a sports scenario the Maori dance is seen as intimidation, the passionate wedding routine visibly moved the young bride and groom, who both joined in by the end of the clip.
A bridesmaid joins in, prompting the bride to as well
Armstrong, 21, told the BBC the haka was a sign of respect from her new husband's family and friends, and she couldn't resist joining in.
“I wasn't planning on jumping in until one bridesmaid did. I felt the need to show love and respect back. I was really blown away.”
Watch the video in full below.
The family were overcome with emotion after the dance
Awesome HAKA at a wedding reception. #ProudPolynesiansClick on link for a better understaniding of the New Zealand Maori Haka: http://www.folksong.org.nz/tika_tonu/
Posted by I'm Proud to be Tongan on Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Images: facebook.com/IPTBT